ST KILDA has handed former Hawthorn tall Max Ramsden an AFL lifeline, adding the 23-year-old as a delisted free agent ahead of the 2027 season.

Ramsden gets a fresh start at a second club after the Hawks cut the 203cm big man following the 2026 campaign.

TRADE HUB All the latest player movement news

The versatile ruck-forward played 11 senior games across his time in brown and gold, kicking six goals after initially joining through the 2022 Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Ramsden struggled to establish himself as a regular at AFL level, where his opportunities in the ruck were limited behind Lloyd Meek and Ned Reeves. He also spent time in the VFL as a key forward as the Hawks looked to make greater use of his athleticism and versatility.

He was delisted in October but had initially been invited to return to Hawthorn over summer and train for a potential lifeline through the pre-season supplemental selection period.

Instead, Ramsden will continue his career with the Saints and gives them another developing tall capable of playing both in the ruck and attack.

"Max's mobility and follow-up work are real strengths when he plays in the ruck, and we're excited to watch him continue to develop alongside Tom De Koning and Alex Dodson," St Kilda general manager of football Lenny Hayes said.

"We've also formally added Jake Stringer to our list today and like Jake, Max is another player we believe can add valuable depth and flexibility to our forward mix next season.